CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2021	Jul. 25, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,614,876	$ 1,245,837
Cost of sales	1,337,074	992,021
Gross profit	277,802	253,816
Operating expenses	317,331	215,944
Operating (loss) income	(39,529)	37,872
Gains on investments	87,827	0
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	1,423	2,034
Interest expense	(5,195)	(6,691)
Income before taxes	44,526	33,215
Income tax expense	10,724	9,013
Net income	33,802	24,202
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(194)	(205)
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 33,996	$ 24,407
Earnings per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.26
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.25
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	96,864	95,189
Diluted (in shares)	98,255	95,843
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.26
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	$ 33,802	$ 24,202
Foreign currency translation gain	324	12,589
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	261	260
Comprehensive income	$ 34,387	$ 37,051